Boys are hungry, says Vinay
Karnataka have been the nearly-outfit in the last two Ranji Trophy seasons, losing in the final and semifinals in 2009 and 2010 respectively, and a determined skipper R Vinay Kumar hoped to set the record straight this time.
“The last two years have been very disappointing for us because we should have won the title given the kind of side we had and the way we played,” noted Vinay on Wednesday, the eve of Karnataka’s Group ‘A’ opener against Rajasthan. “Barring a few changes, this is the same side that we have had in the last couple of seasons, so we want to set the record straight this time. The boys are hungry and they all want to play for India. Ultimately that’s what we play for and that’s the main goal. And if the team does well, it benefits the players as well,” he explained.
Back in the national selection radar, the season is going to be a crucial one for opener Robin Uthappa. “We are looking at Robin as someone who can be devastating, irrespective of the format of the game,” pointed out new coach Kartik Jeshwant. “We will allow him to play the way he likes to. He is not the kind of guy who clicks once in a while; he has been consistent, and this year, whatever he has played, he has been more consistent. We are not asking to change his game style and I am confident he will deliver.”
Returning as the coach of the State squad after a rather average stint in the mid-2000, Jeshwant admitted it was a different challenge for him. “When I say my job is easier (this time), it’s because we have better cricketers now, it doesn’t mean the challenge is any less. This type of combination is rare and it takes years of hard work to get this kind of combination. When I was the coach for the first time, Vinay, Robin and (Bharath) Chipli were inexperienced. But now, they are established cricketers and it’s time they delivered as well,” he said.
Rajasthan skipper Kanitkar stressed on the consistency factor. “We are up against a strong Karnataka side which has been doing well consistently and that’s what we want to do. There’s no point in having just one good match or one good season,” he remarked.
